Thawn remembered when they’d come aboard the new Endeavour, the Obena-class successor of the ship she’d served on for years. They’d been a united crew then, expanding but with a core that had been through enough to retain a sense of identity. That sense had been inflicted on the ship from the first; bringing with them what they needed, making deliberate changes where they wished, from furnishings to decoration.

Pathfinder had none of this. The ship had seen only brief operations after launching, returning to port for quick modifications to bring her in line with the other ships of her line deployed later, and the minor systems adjustments perfected in the field. She was as untarnished as could be after this long in service, and none aboard had had time to get comfortable. As Harkon put it, she had the ‘new ship smell,’ and nobody knew how to change it yet. They didn’t know what scent they’d prefer.

Even Valance looked oddly out of sorts at the head of the conference room meeting table. Thawn had never thought of the commander – the captain – as uncertain, as anything but a towering force of confidence, but there was a hesitation to her as she stood there now. Perhaps this was just what she looked like in the light, out from the shadows of Matt Rourke or Leo MacCallister.

‘Thank you for being here,’ she began. ‘I know this was a last-minute posting for some of you, and I appreciate everyone responding with the speed and professionalism I will expect in the future.’

Nobody, Thawn thought quietly, had ever accused Karana Valance of warmth. Thawn looked down the line of officers, unaccustomed to her relatively senior spot at the table – right next to Commander Dashell, and far fewer heartbeats from command than ever before. Once, the prospect might have stirred joy and excitement, might have felt like a sign of recognition and progress. Now she could only wonder how badly wrong things had gone to get her here. And if they could get worse.

‘We all know names and faces,’ Valance continued, with a slightly dismissive wave of the hand. ‘So I’ll get to business. Our long-term assignment is still pending, but we’re anticipating a briefing package of exploration on the Beta Quadrant frontier. With the Star Empire’s collapse and new agreements emerging with the Romulan factions – including the Free State and the Republic – there are opportunities for Starfleet to go where we’ve never gone before.’

Harkon made a face at that. ‘Isn’t that going to mostly be wandering into places the Romulans were oppressing everyone and seeing how bad it was?’

Valance paused with a hint of irritation, either at the interruption or the cynicism, and it was Dashell who answered, leaning forward with a gentle smile as he clasped his hands together.

‘The Star Empire was vast and did not have the same policies as the Federation on where to go, or why,’ he explained. ‘They cared if a system had resources, including, yes, potential labour. But that means there are hundreds, if not thousands of worlds they’ve paid little heed. Not to mention that most of their survey records are long gone, or anyone who has them isn’t about to share.’

‘It’s our mission,’ said Valance in a clipped voice, ‘to assess these regions. Initially, we’ll be conducting a survey of areas of the independent Romulan factions deemed stable, welcoming, or unclaimed.’ She paused and glared for a moment at a blank section of bulkhead. But then, they were all blank in here, this sterile, crisp briefing room in which they all sat, strangers or, at best, colleagues. ‘But we have yet to receive the strategic assessment of those briefings.’

‘Starfleet want us to explore,’ drawled Hal Riggs cautiously, ‘but they don’t know where?’

Thawn watched Valance and narrowed her eyes a millimetre. Some of Starfleet doesn’t want us out here at all, so people who make the assessments on borders and security drag their feet. ‘What do we do in the meantime, Captain?’ she asked, clear and crisp and sounding ready for action.

Valance inclined her head. ‘We do have a mission, about a sector out from Rator. The region has been quiet; the Star Empire of Rator is still gathering its forces and nobody is contesting their territory yet. The Aerie-class USS Kingfisher was conducting a quick survey of these worlds – specifically the planet Drapice.’

At her gesture, Dashell took over. A press of a button on his PADD brought the holographic projector to life, but all they had was the star chart. Drapice gleamed, barely a sneeze over the old border to the Star Empire. But that had been terra incognita to Starfleet since they’d first spotted it on long-range sensors, forbidden by treaties and force of arms, and now the deep unknown was right on their doorstep.

‘Despite its proximity to Rator, Drapice didn’t draw much of the Star Empire’s attention, so far as we can tell,’ Dashell began. ‘It has little by way of useful resources, and a pre-warp civilisation we think the Empire didn’t deem worth enslaving. It does appear the Empire sometimes had a policy of letting these cultures develop on their own to, well. See what happens, I suppose.’

‘If they aren’t physically strong,’ rumbled Gov’taj, ‘and lack technological sophistication, then enslaving them is not always cost-effective.’ Eyes turned to him, and he straightened with a slightly startled air. ‘Forgive me. I do bring more than deep knowledge of atrocities.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Two crewmen arrive on Qo’noS…’

‘Lieutenant.’ Valance’s expression had set in a way which looked neutral to many, but Thawn knew it masked intense disapproval. ‘What are you doing?’

‘I’m telling a joke,’ Gov’taj said. ‘To make a better first impression than demonstrating my understanding of the economics of slavery.’ He looked back to the table. ‘They meet a guard…’

‘Thank you, Lieutenant.’

Gov’taj shut up with an apologetic look to the table. ‘I think it would have lost something in the translation. I assure you, I am very funny.’ Further down, Ensign Kally clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle.

Valance bit her lip before pressing on. ‘The Kingfisher’s mission was to assess if the people of Drapice had been influenced by the Star Empire – we have heard of some such civilisations being cultivated to be more easily integrated later. With Drapice’s technology, it seemed unlikely. But the Kingfisher and her crew have gone dark. We’re to find out what happened. And, if feasible, complete their mission.’

‘So close to Rator, and Starfleet worried about the strategic implications of our mission.’ Thawn reached for her PADD. ‘Aren’t we concerned the Romulans got them?’

‘We have a lot of sensors directed at that border,’ Dashell said. ‘There’s no sign of another ship showing up. The Kingfisher arrived and then… nothing.’

‘If we run into trouble – the Star Empire of Rator, another Romulan faction – we’re to withdraw,’ Valance said unhappily. ‘But there are missing Starfleet officers and the risk of a Prime Directive breach.’

Doctor Winters tapped his fingers on the edge of the briefing table. ‘Do we know much about the physiology of the people of Drapice?’

‘Some,’ said Dashell. ‘Enough for the Kingfisher to plan a program of genetic metamorphosis for infiltration if necessary. That’s lower on our priority list.’

‘We might not have a choice,’ Winters pointed out, ‘but honestly, I was wondering about the odds of us identifying non-natives from orbit with our sensors.’

Valance raised a hand to cut them off. ‘We don’t know much yet. But it’s possible. The Kingfisher had a small complement: eight people. We find them, and find out what happened. Their mission is a secondary priority.’

‘I’ll, um.’ Ensign Kally spoke, then shut up the moment all eyes were on her. ‘Sorry, Captain, ma’am. I thought that was a gap where I could – do I talk?’

‘You clearly do,’ said Valance.

‘I was just gonna say – do you want me to start scanning local comms once we’re in the region, see if there’s any chatter that could be about an Aerie?’

Thawn glanced at Valance, then looked quite intently at her PADD. Elsa wouldn’t have asked, she’d have just done it, she thought. But it hadn’t occurred to Valance that she’d need to ask this very green officer to begin processes she was used to her subordinates doing as naturally as breathing.

‘Do it,’ Valance said after a moment. ‘And liaise with Commander Dashell, who’ll be monitoring our sensors.’ She glanced down the table. ‘Doctor Winters, make ready in case we do need to infiltrate Drapice. Prepare protocols for any of the senior staff to deploy if necessary – I won’t know what composition of away team I’ll need until we get there.’

‘Of course. I’ll need to then prioritise everyone in Sickbay for a full medical,’ said Winters, and glanced apologetically at Gov’taj. ‘Especially you, Lieutenant; I don’t have records yet from the KDF.’

Gov’taj waved a hand like this was no issue. ‘My blood is your blood, Doctor.’

Winters paused at that. ‘Oh. Good?’

Harkon snickered. ‘You did say you were very funny.’

‘Officers.’ Valance looked up and down the table. ‘You’ll have the full information on the Kingfisher’s mission sent to you. We depart at 1400 hours. Any questions?’

Kally raised a hand this time. ‘Do we know when we’ll be back at Starbase Bravo?’

‘With any luck, not for some time,’ said Valance. ‘We are supposed to be on a mission of exploration.’

‘We’re one of them ranging ships,’ mused Riggs. ‘So long as someone lets us, y’know, range.’

‘Of course, we might have to bring the crew of the Kingfisher back,’ Thawn pointed out.

Valance sighed, planting her hands on the table. ‘We’ll see. Dismissed.’

Others got to their feet, hurrying off. Commander Dashell at once cornered the diminutive Ensign Kallavasu, likely realising he needed to make sure she had direct guidance on her first official duty as a department head – as a commissioned officer. Gov’taj hovered for a moment, looking unsure of himself, but left as Thawn stood her ground.

Valance waited until the door was shut, leaving the two alone, before straightening in her seat. ‘Something on your mind, Lieutenant?’

Thawn hesitated. ‘I hope you know that I’m on your side, Captain,’ she said tentatively.

‘I didn’t know there were sides.’

‘Our struggle to fill all billets. It’s no secret, Captain, I know it’s why you sent me to bring in Harkon. And now regional leadership is being slow to give us clearance on the mission we were assembled for -’

But Valance raised a hand and Thawn, however much she felt like she stood on burning coals these days, fell silent at the slightest exertion of authority. ‘I don’t want you to worry about this, Lieutenant. Pathfinder will perform her mission and duty. Focus on the ship.’

‘If Fleet Captain Jericho is issuing any orders about what happens here, in his area of operations, and wants to continue to wrong-foot Captain Rourke, then it makes sense he wouldn’t want the Pathfinder as an asset to -’

‘Lieutenant.’ This time Thawn did shut up properly, shoulders sinking as Valance regarded her. The captain waited for a moment to make sure she was done before she spoke. ‘These are growing pains with a new assignment. Starfleet Science signs off on one thing, but Tactical wants to check affairs before giving the green light. That’s all.’

In the weeks since the Gradin Belt, Thawn had felt like she was cramming her telepathic senses back in her head. Ever since leaving Betazed a decade ago, she’d been expected to know – told – that what was socially acceptable there was an intrusion, even a violation. And so she’d locked away a part of herself to live in the wider Federation, because Rosara Thawn was an absolutist, and not good at doing things by degrees. She’d had to bring it all crashing back out in the past months, and while she knew she now had to pack it away again, on some level she resented the need.

It wasn’t just her telepathic sense that told her Valance was lying, though. She’d worked with her for almost four years now, and knew her many masks and methods. More than that, she’d picked up on the dynamic aboard Endeavour when Fleet Captain Jericho had forced so many changes. This response was like getting a door slammed shut in her face.

Captain Rourke sent me with you, she wanted to say – no, shout, rage. But Karana Valance was the captain now and had to make sure everyone knew it. Even, or perhaps especially, an old colleague from before.

Thawn straightened, demeanour settling into pitch-perfect professionalism. ‘As you say, Captain. I’ll make sure our supplies and equipment are ready for long-term deployment. We should prepare for the possibility, after all.’

It was possible Valance looked a little guilty as she left. Possible, but ultimately unimportant. After all, this was a fresh start, wiping the slate clean. For all of them.